Museum of Science and Industry

The last surviving model of one of Manchester's earliest cars is being restored to working order at the Museum of Science and Industry (MoSI). Classic car enthusiast John Willams is working on a 1904 model of the Imperial light car, which was probably built at the horse tram depot in Rusholme. It is the only known example of this type of car left in the world.

The Imperial car was produced by William 'Billy' Turner, who set up the Imperial Autocar Manufacturing Company Limited at 6 Faulkner Street in 1900, and later moved to the former Manchester Corporation Tramway Company's horse tram depot.

The gleaming classic car, which is displayed in the Museum's Air and Space Hall, has not run for 25 years and presents a major challenge for the modern car mechanic. Early manufacturers were still experimenting with the best ways to construct a car, so some of the features seem odd in comparison to today's models. The car also leaks oil as most of its seals have perished.

John Willams, who is a volunteer at MoSI says: "I have to try to imagine what the car engineers of that time were thinking of when they made the car, and how they went about solving problems, as it's just not the same approach we'd have these days. When they made these things there was no right or wrong way round; people bought parts from different manufacturers and just put them together as their own car. On this Imperial, the oil filler plug on the side of the engine is right behind the tubular chassis, so you have to work from the other side to get the oil in! It's quite a challenge, but I'm aiming to get the car running for August, when the Museum will host a classic car rally."

Nick Forder, transport curator at MoSI says: "The Museum has the last known model of the Imperial car, so we have to be careful with it. However John and I are agreed that the opportunity to see it running again will be well worth giving me a few more grey hairs!

"Imperial was one of a small number of Manchester companies that assembled cars by hand using components they bought in. For instance, the engine was made in France. They were really not a practical mode of transport and would have been something that the wealthy classes would have regarded as a bit of a toy to impress friends with in their spare time. It was not particularly comfortable, and would have needed constant maintenance just to get it going."

Up to 150 Imperials were thought to have been produced by William Turner's company in Manchester. The cars would have retailed at around £250, at a time when skilled factory workers would have earned less than £2.50 a week. Turner produced four known styles of Imperial, designed to carry between two and four people.

In 1902, a five horsepower Imperial was built to take part in the sixth annual Liverpool road trial, an 83-mile course from Liverpool to Blackburn and back. The Imperial completed the course, consuming 3.75 gallons of petrol and 4.25 gallons of water, and recorded a speed of 6.4mph on a hill trial test on Cemetary Brow.

Billy Turner probably manufactured complete Imperial cars until around 1912. After that he concentrated on garage services and coachbuilding. He died in 1947, and his Manchester Evening News obituary reported that he had just patented the design of an automatic gearbox.
John Williams will be demonstrating his restoration work on the Imperial at 11am, 19 June in the Air and Space Hall, the Museum of Science and Industry.

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